A rendering of the Chile Antofagasta Temple.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Antofagasta Chile Temple will be built in northern Antofagasta.Screenshot from Google Maps
Chile borders the Pacific Ocean and shares inland borders with Argentina, Bolivia and Peru.Screenshot from Google Maps
Groundbreaking of the Antofagasta Chile Temple
The groundbreaking of the Antofagasta Chile Temple was presided over by Elder Juan Pablo Villar, second counselor in the South America South Area presidency, on Nov. 27, 2020. Elder Villar offered a dedicatory prayer and shared his testimony alongside two local Latter-day Saints, 25-year-old Krasna Arancibia and 15-year-old Joseph Amaguaña.
In his dedicatory prayer on the site, Elder Villar said, “At this moment, a small number of Thy children have come together to participate in this groundbreaking ceremony, and we thank Thee because this day has arrived to bless the lives of many Saints that live in Antofagasta; and in the cities and towns that are within this district.”
The Antofagasta Chile Temple groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 27, 2020, with Elder Juan Pablo Villar, second counselor in the South America South Area presidency, presiding. Although attendance at the event was limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, Elder Villar was joined by Antofagasta Governor Nanto Espinoza and Interim Mayor Yamile Guzmán.
The Antofagasta Chile Temple was announced April 7, 2019, by Church President Russell M. Nelson. The groundbreaking and site dedication for this house of the Lord were held on Nov. 27, 2020, and presided over by Elder Juan Pablo Villar, second counselor in the South America South Area presidency.
Architecture and Design of the Antofagasta Chile Temple
The Antofagasta Chile Temple will be a two-story building of approximately 23,000 square feet. Exterior renderings show the temple will have rectangular vaulted windows around the building and a main door facing the road. Atop the temple is a rectangular tower with a vaulted top and a thin spire extending upward.
The temple will be built on a 2.2-acre site, with grass, palm trees and small bushes filling the grounds.
Groundbreaking Photos of the Antofagasta Chile Temple
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Elder Juan Pablo Villar (center); his wife, Carola (right); and Elder Luis Zapata (left) use their shovels to break ground for the Antofagasta Chile Temple on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Carola Villar shares her thoughts at the groundbreaking of the Antofagasta Chile Temple on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Local Church leaders in Antofagasta, Chile, participate in the groundbreaking of the Antofagasta Chile Temple on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Attendance at the event was limited because of current COVID-19 safety guidelines. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder Juan Pablo Villar speaks at the groundbreaking of the Antofagasta Chile Temple on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Krasna Arancibia shares her testimony and feelings about the much-anticipated Antofagasta temple on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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A small group of Latter-day Saints in Antofagasta, Chile, participates in the groundbreaking of the Antofagasta Chile Temple on Friday, November 27, 2020. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder Luis Zapata, an Area Seventy, speaks during part of the temple groundbreaking’s program on Friday, November 27, 2020. In addition to local Church leaders who attended the event, government leaders—including Antofagasta’s governor and interim mayor—were also in attendance. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder Juan Pablo Villar answers interview questions for news media purposes after the groundbreaking of the Antofagasta Chile Temple on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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A limited number of guests attend the Antofagasta Chile Temple groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Additional Facts
Fact #1
This was the third Latter-day Saint temple in Chile.
Fact #2
Once dedicated, it will be the northernmost temple in the country.
The Antofagasta temple will serve two stakes in Antofagasta and other stakes in northern Chile, making temple worship much more accessible. Currently, Church members in Antofagasta have to take a bus ride of approximately 22 hours to reach the closest house of the Lord in Santiago, Chile.
The Antofagasta temple will serve two stakes in Antofagasta and other stakes in northern Chile, making temple worship much more accessible. Currently, Church members in Antofagasta have to take a bus ride of approximately 22 hours to reach the closest house of the Lord in Santiago, Chile.
